Braves' Markakis returns 3 weeks after opting out of season

Nick Markakis is returning to Atlanta Braves, three weeks after anuncing he was opting out of season due to his concerns about coronavirus pandemic.

Markakis, veteran outfielder who is in his sixth season with Atlanta, said Wednesday he changed his mind about sitting out after watching his teammates play first five games.

“Sitting at home, watching se guys compete ... and all risks y’re going through going out re, in pit of my stomach I felt I wanted to be out re,” Markakis said.

He said he realized returning was possible following a phone call from Braves general manr Alex Anthopoulos earlier this week.

36-year-old Markakis says he has full support of his family, including his three children, in his decision to return.

“It was nice to be home with family, but more than anything I kw my family wanted me to be out re with ( Braves),” he said.

Markakis opted out on July 6, when he said he was uneasy about playing season without fans and n was swayed by his telephone conversation with teammate Freddie Freeman, who tested positive for COVID-19. Freeman struggled with symptoms that included a high fever of 104.5 degrees, and Markakis ackwledged again Wednesday that he was influenced by Freeman's struggles.

Freeman returned for start of season.

Markakis said call from Anthopulos “me my decision a lot easier.”

He said baseball “has been in my blood since I was 4 years old and it sucks, it sucks watching baseball when you kw you can go out and compete on a daily basis.”

Markakis said he felt guilty about his decision to sit out season and planned to apologize to his teammates. “I bailed out on m and when I see m I will apologize to m and hopefully be a part of m,” he said.

Markakis said he has worked out regularly but won't kw when he will be rey to return to Braves' roster until he talks with manr Brian Snitker.

Freeman, top setup man Will Smith, right-hander Touki Toussaint and infielder Pete Kozma tested positive for coronavirus. Toussaint also has returned and Smith, who worked out in Atlanta during team's opening ro trip, could return this week.

Markakis is baseball's first player to return after opting out.

Among or table players to opt out are Dodgers pitcher David Price, Washington infielder Ryan Zimmerman and Coloro outfielder Ian Desmond.

Markakis hit .285 with nine homers and 62 RBIs in 2019. He was an All-Star in 2018.

Im credits: AP